వంగి వంకాయ, తొంగి దోసకాయ తిన్నట్లు
vangi vankaya, tongi dosakaya tinnatlu
Like eating a brinjal by bending and a cucumber by peeking.
This expression is used to describe someone who performs actions with excessive or unnecessary stealth, secrecy, or exaggeration for simple, everyday tasks. It mocks people who behave as if they are doing something forbidden or highly significant when they are actually doing something mundane.
Related Phrases
దోసకాయలు తిన్న కడుపు, దొంగలు పడ్డ ఇల్లు ఒకటే.
dosakayalu tinna kadupu, dongalu padda illu okate.
A stomach filled with cucumbers and a house robbed by thieves are the same.
This proverb highlights that certain efforts or possessions provide no lasting value or substance. Just as a stomach feels full after eating cucumbers but becomes empty very quickly due to their high water content, a house after a robbery is left with nothing. It is used to describe situations that result in emptiness or a lack of substantial benefit despite initial appearances.
వంకాయ కూరకు టెంకాయ మసాలా
vankaya kuraku tenkaya masala
Coconut spice/masala for brinjal curry
This expression refers to a perfect combination or an ideal match. Just as coconut masala enhances the taste of brinjal curry, it is used to describe two things or people that complement each other perfectly to produce a great result.
కొన్నది వంకాయ, కొసరింది గుమ్మడికాయ
konnadi vankaya, kosarindi gummadikaya
Bought a brinjal, but asked for a pumpkin as a free extra.
This proverb describes a person who buys something very small or cheap but expects a disproportionately large or valuable item for free (kosaru). It is used to mock someone's unreasonable greed or lack of proportion in dealings.
కొన్నది వంకాయ, కొసరినది గుమ్మడికాయ
konnadi vankaya, kosarinadi gummadikaya
What he bought was a brinjal, what he got to boot was a gourd.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone demands or expects a free addition (bonus) that is far more valuable or larger than the actual item they paid for. It highlights greediness or unreasonable expectations in transactions.
వంకాయ తమ్ముడు వాకుడు కాయ
vankaya tammudu vakudu kaya
The wild eggplant is the younger brother of the brinjal.
This proverb is used to describe two people or things that are very similar in nature, character, or appearance. Just as a brinjal and a wild eggplant belong to the same family and look alike, it implies that someone shares the same (often negative) traits as their associate or sibling.
కూర్చుని లేవలేనమ్మ వంగి శివరాత్రికి వస్తానన్నదట
kurchuni levalenamma vangi shivaratriki vastanannadata
A lady who cannot even stand up from a sitting position promised to attend the Shivaratri festival by bending/trekking.
This proverb is used to mock people who cannot perform even the simplest of tasks but make grand, unrealistic promises about completing much more difficult or ambitious ones. It highlights the irony of someone lacking basic capability yet claiming they will achieve something extraordinary.
గాదెడు దోసకాయలలో చేటడు కుచ్చెలు పట్టవా?
gadedu dosakayalalo chetadu kuchchelu pattava?
In a granary full of cucumbers, won't there be space for a winnowing-basket full of ends?
This proverb is used to suggest that when dealing with a massive quantity or a large project, a small extra addition or a minor flaw is negligible and easily accommodated. It implies that in the grand scheme of things, small details or slight increments do not make a significant difference.
తూగుతున్న మునసబును తలమూట దింపుమన్నట్లు
tugutunna munasabunu talamuta dimpumannatlu
Like asking a drowsy village officer to help unload a heavy head-load.
This expression is used when someone asks for help from a person who is already in a helpless, tired, or incapacitated state. It highlights the irony of seeking assistance from someone who cannot even manage themselves at that moment.
వంకాయ దొంగిలించినవాడు టెంకాయ దొంగిలించడా?
vankaya dongilinchinavadu tenkaya dongilinchada?
Will a man who steals a brinjal not steal a coconut?
This proverb suggests that a person who commits a small crime or dishonesty is likely to commit a larger one given the opportunity. It emphasizes that a lack of integrity starts small but can escalate, and one's character is judged by even minor actions. It is used to warn people not to trust someone who has a history of even trivial dishonesty.
వంకాయ దొంగిలించినవాడు టెంకాయకు రాడా?
vankaya dongilinchinavadu tenkayaku rada?
Will the person who stole a brinjal not come for a coconut?
This proverb suggests that a person who commits a small crime or dishonesty will eventually move on to bigger ones. It is used to imply that character is defined by the act of stealing itself, not the value of the object stolen. If someone can justify small wrongdoings, they are capable of larger ones as well.